THE CATOS

By: Ine Suh

Who were the Catos?

The Cato family was famous for its conservative roots in Roman politics

Cato the Elder and Cato the Younger are the most significant members of the family

They struggled to maintain order in Rome during various periods of the Roman Republic: rise, prosperity, and fall

Cato Family Tree

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Who was Cato the Elder? Marcus Porcius Cato (234-149 BC)

Soldier, senator, statesman, and leader of Roman Conservatives

Elected consul and censor

Rival of Scipio Africanus

Opposed foreign Greek influence; defended traditional Roman morals Cato the Elder

<http://mattshistorycourses.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/cato.jpg>

Life & Legacy of Cato the Elder

Wrote the first history of Rome Origines in Latin

Believed Rome had been too lenient on the Carthaginians at the end of the Second Punic War

His embassy to Carthage in 153 BC confirmed this rival country’s prosperity as a threat to Rome

Cato shows his fellow senators some plump Carthaginian figs to remind them that Carthage had become too prosperous and must be destroyed (Nardo 56).

Ended all speeches in the Senate with

“Delenda est

Carthago”

(Carthage must be destroyed)

Cato the Elder <http://www.biography.com/imported/images/Biography/Images/Profiles/C/Marcus-Porcius-Cato-9241762-1-402.jpg>

Influence on Roman History His warnings encouraged Rome to fight again

149 BC: Outbreak of the Third Punic War146 BC: Romans killed Carthaginians and burned the city

Ruin of Carthage gave Rome full access over the Mediterranean Sea – became mare nostrum

Cato’s stance toward Carthage turned Rome into a mighty military power that dominated Europe and North Africa for five centuries

Who was Cato the Younger? Marcus Porcius Cato or

Cato Uticensis (95-46 BC)

Great-grandson of Cato the Elder

Leader of optimates – Roman conservative party

Treasurer, tribune, and magistrate

Julius Caesar’s foeCato the Younger <http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lqyyhqWhxt1qcla2no1_r1_500.jpg>

Life & Legacy of Cato the Younger

Fought against Caesar’s power and ruthless ambition

55 BC in Gaul Cato accused Caesar of war crimes

Attempted to destroy the triumvirate by making Pompey fight against Julius CaesarFled to North Africa when Caesar defeated Pompey’s forces

Death of Cato the Younger Chose to die for his own

principles rather than to live under Caesar’s rule

46 BC: Stabbed himself and died in the presence of his family in Utica

Cicero’s eulogy Cato – Cato the Younger considered a martyr to the ancient Republic

Death of Cato of Utica by Charles Brun <http://rlv.zcache.com.au/the_death_of_cato_of_utica_1646_post_cardsrcbcc51602a354f278230317d51c71c14_vgbaq_8byvr_512.jpg>

Rome’s Last Citizen <http://i.huffpost.com/gen/913609/thumbs/r-CATO-ROMES-LAST-CITIZEN-large570.jpg?6>

Influence on Roman History Cato’s stance against tyranny and his famous suicide made

him the icon of civic duty and sacrifice

Became a hero to those who idealized the dying Roman Republic: Romans were inspired by Cato the Younger and continued to oppose Caesar’s dictatorship

44 BC: Julius Caesar was assassinated in a conspiracy led by the hands of Brutus, Cato the Younger’s son-in-law

BibliographyCarey, Brian Todd, Joshua B. Allfree, and John Cairns. Hannibal's last battle: Zama and the fall of

Carthage. Yardley, Pa.: Westholme, Pub., 2008. Print."Cato, Marcus Porcius." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 26 Mar. 2013.<http://school.eb.com/eb/article-9021833>.

Eckstein, Arthur M. “Cato, Marcus Porcius, the Younger.” World Book Advanced. World Book, 2013. Web. 15 March. 2013. <http://worldbookonline.com/advanced/article>

Ferrill, Arther. “Cato, Marcus Porcius, the Elder.” World Book Advanced. World Book, 2013. Web. 15 March. 2013. <http://worldbookonline.com/advanced/article>

Freeman, Philip. Julius Caesar. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2008. Print.Goodman, Rob, and Jimmy Soni. Rome's last citizen: the life and legacy of Cato, mortal enemy of

Caesar. New York: Thomas Dunne Books, 2012. Print.Hughes, Robert. Rome: a cultural, visual, and personal history. New York: Random House Inc.,

2011. Print.Nardo, Don. The Roman Republic. Farmington Hills, MI: Lucent Books, 2006. Print.